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March 31, 1964 E. J. NEHLS LOCKING CLOSURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1961 March 31, 1964 E. J.-NEHLS 3,126,728

LOCKING CLOSURE Filed June 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia/4727 -77 WeZZs j E. J. NEHLS LOCKING CLOSURE March 31, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 28, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,126,728 LOCKWG CLQSURE Edward J. Nelils, 333 Waldrnan Drive, Park Forest, Ill. Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,3(lii l (Ilaims. (til. 711-169) This invention relates to improvements in locking type closure members, particularly of the snap-on type used to close and seal the gasoline filler necks of automative vehicle gasoline tanks.

Locking gasoline caps of commercially practicable designs have conventionally tended toward bulky construction and as a result have not been readily adaptable for use for closing and sealing gasoline filler necks of relatively small diameters, such as are used on many of the smaller automobiles, or for use with gasoline filler necks which have an inturned neck flange and where the size of the filler neck may be within the 1 to 2 inch diameter range. The cap must often be accommodated within a small depressed well in the vehicle body, which imposes fu-r-ther restrictions upon size.

A principal object of the applicants invention, therefore, is to provide an improved snap-on locking type of gas cap which can be readily applied and locked onto gasoline tank filler necks and can be manufactured for use with practically any diameter and which is particularly advantageous in its adaptability to small sizes by virtue of the fact that the locking and working parts may with my invention be made large, rugged and simple in proportion to the overall size of the cap.

A further object is to provide a gasoline cap according to the preceding objects with a highly advantageous geometrical arrangement of parts, and the parts of which are so arranged that either a push-button plunger-type of latch-releasing means or a rotatable cam-type of releasing means may be employed with equal effectiveness, and wherein the design is readily adaptable to a mechanism which is automatically self-locking, so that it may only be released by a key, whenever it is applied to the filler neck, or alternatively may be provided with both a latching act-ion and a locking action, with very little structural variation or complication, and with many of the same parts, so that the user may apply the cap either so it may be released without the key or only by means of the key, as he may choose.

Another object is to provide a gas cap according to the preceding objects which comprises two body portions each of which may be cast from metal or plastic in a single casting step.

Another object is to provide an improved cap of the indicated character having a single spring acting upon the bolt mechanism and connected parts including the lock plug of the cylinder lock mechanism in such manner as to perform a plurality of functions in a unique and advantageous fashion.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 repreesnts a cross sectional view of one form of the gasoline cap structure;

FIGURE 2 represents a side plan view of the upper body portion of the cap of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 represents a top plan view of the lower body portion of the cap of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 4 represents a side elevational view of the lower body portion of FIGURE 3 taken in the direction of the arrow 4 therein;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the cap;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the lock cylinder portion of FIGURES '1 and 5, with the plug removed, taken along the line corresponding to 6-6 of FIGURE 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 represents an isometric view of the locking member actuating cam of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE -8 represents an isometric view of a gasoline filler neck.

Referring to the drawings, a closure member or snapon gasoline cap generally designated 10 comprises an upper body portion 12 and a lower body portion generally designated 14, which portions in combination may be hereinafter termed body means and may be of metal or plastic material as required and are preferably cast. The lower body portion 14 has a substantially circular cross section as shown in FIGURE 3, and is formed to provide an upper substantially cylindrical chamber 16 and a smaller lower substantially cylindrical chamber 18 forming between them a substantially flat annular shoulder 21 A pair of slots 22 and 24 are provided in the outer wall 25 of the body portion 14 and each slot extends all the way through the top edge 26 thereof. Bearing grooves 28 and 30 are provided in the body portion 14 extending downwardly from shoulder 20 as shown in FIGURE 1, and extending respectively across the grooves 22 and 24. a substantial distance on either side thereof as shown in 'FIGURE 3. A pair of locking arms or latch bolts 32 and 34 are provided with laterally extending trunnion shaft portions 36 and 38 respectively, extending from either side of the arms and pivotally mounted in the hearing grooves 28 and 30 respectively. Trunnions 36-38 are pivotally supported near the periphery of closure portion .14 and the bolts are of bellcrank form, each having a latching arm 126128 extending upwardly and an actuating arm 40-42 extending inwardly. The under sides of the actuating arms are engaged by an inverted conical compression spring 44 positioned at its lower end over the projection or spring centering post 46 protruding from the bottom of the cavity 18. The upper portions of each of the latching arms 126 and 128 are provided with stop means 43 extending from either side thereof for engaging the inside of wall 25 for preventing excessive pivotal movement of the arms 126 and 128 outwardly of the outer surface 50 of the wall 25.

The upper body portion 12 is provided with a fiat annular seating shoulder 52 and a cylindrical annular flange 54 between which is securely nested a resilient rubber sealing member 56 providing a sealing shoulder or face 58 for sealing against the top 60 of the filler neck 62. Body portion 12 is further provided with a center lock cylinder portion 64- the inner wall of which is designated 66 and is provided with a plurality of tumbler slots 68 therein as shown in FIGURE '6. The purpose of these slots is described in detail below. A combined actuating plunger or push-button and lock plug 70 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 64 and is provided at its lower end with a projection 72 to which is secured an actuating rollback member 74 by heading or other means 75 for movement therewith. Projection 72 may be keyed in any well known manner to member 74 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Rollback member 74 carries a downwardly depending projection 76' which is adapted to engage a stop 78 preferably integrally cast with body portion 14 and extending upwardly from the bottom of cavity 18. This engagement occurs when the actuating plunger 70 is rotated to a position wherein projection 76 overlies the top of stop 78. When the plunger 70 is in this position, it is seen that it cannot be pushed downwardly, and the rollback member 74 cannot, therefore, engage and move the actuating arm portions 4% and 42 downwardly to retract arms 126 and 128 from. underneath the edge of the curl 69 of the filler neck 62. However, when the a plunger 74 is rotated, as shown in FIGURE 1, to a position wherein the projection 76 and stop 73 are not aligned, the plunger can be moved downwardly against the force of spring 44 to thereby pivot arms 32 and 34 out of engagement with the edge 81) of the filler neck so that the cap 11 can be removed therefrom.

Actuating plunger 70 may comprise a generally conventional type of cylinder lock plug provided with a key slot 82 and plate tumblers 84 laterally reciprocably mounted in the plug and spring urged outwardly toward the groove 68 in cylinder wall 66. In the locking of cap It) onto the filler neck, the body portion 14 is inserted into the filler neck until the latch bolts 32 and 34 snap out under edge 80 thereof. At this point, shoulder 58 is in compression with the top portion of curl 68 of the filler neck. A lock key may be inserted into the key passage 82 in plug 7t" to cam the tumblers 84 from one of the grooves 68 if the turnbers happen to be therein, inwardly to a position fiush with the surface of plug 70 so that the plug may then be rotated from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to a position wherein projection '76 is positioned directly above stop '78. The key may then be withdrawn from the passage 82 to allow the spring urged tumblers 84 to again be moved out into one of the grooves as to prevent the plug 749 from being further rotated. With projection 76 and stop 78 in this position, plug 71) cannot be pushed inwardly, and the cap 10 is locked onto the filler neck 62.

In order to prevent the plug 7% from being withdrawn from the bore 66, the rollback 74 underhangs the cylindrical portion 64. Sealing and retaining means are provided for retaining the latch bolts and preventing gas fumes from being transmitted out through bore 66 and include a disc 88 slotted at 9th and )1 to accommodate the locking arms 125 and 128 respectively and having a central aperture *2 for loosely receiving the rollback member 74. A rubber washer 94 sealingly but slidably receives the projection 72 of the plug 7t) and is sealingly engaged with the bottom 96 and sealing ridge 97 of the cylinder 64 and a disc 98 interposed between the washer 94 and the disc 83 retains the latter and provides metal-tometal sliding contact between the upper surface '7 3 of the rollback 74 and the lower surface of disc 98. A spring 44 continually maintains the rubber washer 94 in sealing engagement with the end 96 to prevent gas fume leakage up through bore 66 even when washer 94 becomes aged and worn. Spring 44 will be seen to perform the addi tional functions of projecting the latch bolts outwardly, projecting the plunger-plug '70 upwardly, and holding all of the mechanical parts against rattling. Slots 9t) and fil are wide enough to accommodate arms 126 and 128 but are not so wide as to allow trunnion shaft portions 36 and 38 to be moved upwardly out of their slot-shaped bearings 28 and 3d.

The upper body portion 12, as shown in FIGURE 2, is provided with a pair of integrally cast projections 100 extending from the inner surface 101 of the body portion 12 and having ends 99 which rest on the top of plate 83 and thre-adably receive screw members 192 in their threaded sockets 104. The plate 88 is apertured at 8 9 so that screws 102 may pass therethrough into sockets 104.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 8, lower body portion 14 is provided at opposite side portions with a pair of laterally extending projections 1% adapted to be slidably received in the pair of recesses 108 in opposite sides of the filler neck curl 60 as body or plug portion 14 is inserted axially in to the filler neck 62. These projections 136 extend above the rim 26 of body portion 14 to abut the edges 112 and 114 of flange 113 forming the recesses 168 when the cap is in its sealing position on the filler neck as shown in FIGURE 1 to thereby prevent rotation of the cap to a position wherein the outwardly pivoted latch bolts or locking arms 32 and 34 might be withdrawn through the recesses 1%.

In FIGURE 5 is shown a modification of the closure means of FIGURE 1 with similar parts similarly numbered. In this modification the cylinder lock plug 116 forms the actuating member for controlling the position of arms 32 and 34 and is rotatable but not slidable in the cylinder. Plug 116 is provided on its projecting end 72 with an annular cam-type rollback 117 having a pair of cam ramps 113 and 120. In operation as rollback 117 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, considered as viewed from the top in FIGURE 5, portions 40 and 42 of arms 32 and 34 respectively, will be engaged by ramps 113 and 121 to cause the latching arms 126 and 128 to be pivoted inwardly and out of engagement with the edge 89 of the filler neck. Member 116 may be a typical cylinder lock plug rotatably operable by means of a key insertable in the key passage 82 and engageable with plate tumblers 84 in essentially the same manner in which the locking portion of actuating plug 70 is operated when rotated.

It is noted that the outer edges of latching arms 126 and 128 extend angularly outwardly as well as upwardly to act :as cams to force the latching arms inwardly as the lower body portion 14 is moved axially into the filler neck 62. Also in the caps of FIGURES 1 and 5, the spring 44 maintains the inwardly extending actuating arms against the rollback which is thereby urged tightly against the bearing disc 98 which in turn presses rubber washer 94 against the bottom 96 of portion 64 so that no rattle of the parts occurs and to provide an effective seal by means of Washer 94. The bearing disc 98 in the structure of FIGURE 5 does not have to be of a larger diameter than the aperture 92 in disc 83 since the rollback 117 is not operated by being pushed downwardly and there is no chance of moving the rubber washer 94 out of sealing engagement with portion 64 as would occur with the structure of FIGURE 1 if disc 93 did not prevent it. It is further noted that the cap of FIGURE 5 may be provided with a pivotally mounted dust cover 130 and sealing gasket 132, which cover may be pivoted out of the way when it is desired to operate the lock. In the structure of FIGURE 5, the stop 7 8 is omitted.

Applicants cap design is readily adaptable for use with small diameter filler necks without sacrificing the strength or effectiveness of the cap. In fact, the entire lower body portion 14 could be very much smaller proportionately than in the constructions shown, to provide a cap adapted to fit into smaller filler necks, without reducing the size or ruggedness of the parts, due to the fact that there is ample clearance between the latching arms 126, 128 and the outer wall of cylinder 64, and between the inner ends of the actuating arms 4ti42, to permit the bellcranks 32-34 to be moved inwardly toward each other, and accommodated in a body portion of smaller diameter, with no significant reduction in the size or strength of the pants. Since the rollback 74 and plunger portion 72 move downwardly as a unit, it is not necessary that the arms 4042 clear the portion 72.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lockable closure construction including a body having a top and having a smaller lower body portion adapted to penetrate an opening to be closed, said body having a cavity therein, locking mechanism in the cavity operable accessible from the top and extending downwardly into said lower body portion, and angular bell crank-type bolt means rockably supported by said lower body portion and including an actuating arm operably interconnectible with the locking mechanism and extending in an outward direction therefrom and a latching arm extending upwardly toward the top.

2. A closure construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating arm extends at least partially beneath said locking mechanism and said latching arm includes a part extending angularly outwardly and upwardly toward the top beside the locking mechanism.

3. A closure construction as defined in claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a rotatable lock plug, and a rollback portion actuatable by the plug and engageable with the actuating arm to rock the same to thereby retract the latching arm.

4. In a closure construction as defined in claim 3, a compression spring in the lower body portion beneath and bearing upwardly against the actuating arm and urging said arm upwardly against the rollback portion and urging the latching arm outwardly.

5. A closure construction as defined in claim 4 wherein the plug is both rotatable in the body and axially slidable a substantial distance therein, said rollback portion comprising a thrust portion operable to move the actuating arm in response to axial movement of the plug, said spring reacting axially upwardly upon the plug through said arm.

6. In a closure construction as defined in claim 3, a compression spring in the lower body portion beneath and bearing upwardly against the actuating arm and urging said arm upwardly against the rollback portion and urging the latching arm outwardly, the plug being rotatable in a cylinder portion in the body, the rollback portion being of annular form and supported by and coaxially with the lower end of the plug below the lower end of said cylinder portion, and a sealing member between the rollback portion and the lower end of the cylinder and underlying the latter, said seal being subjected to compression between the rollback and the lower end of the cylinder by the force of the spring.

7. A closure construction as defined in claim 3 wherein the rollback portion comprises a cam acting downwardly against the actuating arm in response to rotation of the plug.

8. A closure construction as defined in claim 3 wherein the plug is both rotatable in the body and axially slidable a substantial distance therein, said rollback portion comprising a thrust portion operable to move the actuating arm in response to axial movement of the plug.

9. A closure construction as defined in claim 3 wherein the plug is both rotatable in the body and axially slidable a substantial distance therein, said rollback portion comprising a thrust portion operable to move the actuating arm in response to axial movement of the plug, and means responsive to rotation of the plug to a locked position to prevent axial movement of said rollback portion.

10. In a lockable cover construction, a body having a lock cylinder-defining portion therein, a key-operable lock plug rotatable in the cylinder, latch bolt means operable by the plug, actuating portions for said latch bolt means at least partially underlying the plug, said actuating portions being movable in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the cylinder in response to actuation of the plug, to thereby actuate the latch bolt means, and spring means supported by the body and reacting against said actuating portions in an axial direction and urging the actuating portions toward the plug, the actuating portions being interposed between the spring and plug and the spring acting to urge the latch bolt means toward a projected position and to take up clearance between said actuating portions and plug.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein said latch bolt means includes a pair of angular latch bolts, said actuating portions comprising integral oppositely and inwardly extending portions of said bolts, said bolts also incorporating latching portions extending upwardly beside the cylinder in a generally axial direction from the actuating portions.

l2. Closure means comprising body means having a portion adapted for insertion into a tubular member, cavity means formed by said portion, latch means pivotally mounted on said portion and having first abutment means extending into said cavity means, said latch means having other abutment means for engaging under projecting portions of said tubular member for preventing withdrawal of said portion fromsaid tubular member, bearing means formed by said body means axially extending toward said first abutment means; plunger means reciprocably mounted in said bearing means and engaging said first abutment means, said plunger means being adapted to pivot said latch means to move said other abutment means thereof out of engagement with said projecting portions of said tubular member, shoulder means on said plunger means underlying portions of said body means adjacent said bearing means for limiting the outward movement of said plunger means in said bearing means, and spring means in said cavity means engaging said latch means and continuously urging the same in a pivotal manner to position said other abutment means thereof outwardly of said body portions, said spring means also continuously urging said plunger means toward portions of said body means to take up clearance between and prevent rattling of portions of said closure means.

13. In a lcokable cover construction, a body having a lock cylinder-defining portion therein, a key-operable lock plug rotatable and axially slidable in the cylinder, latch bolt means operable by the plug, actuating portions for said latch bolt means at least partially underlying the plug, said actuating portions being movable in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the cylinder in response to actuation of the plug, to thereby actuate the latch bolt means, and spring means supported by the body and reacting against said actuating portions in an axial direction and urging the actuating portions toward the plug, the actuating portions being interposed between the spring and plug and the spring acting to urge the latch bolt means toward a projected position and to take up clearance between said actuating portions and plug.

14. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said latch bolt means includes a pair of angular latch bolts, said actuating portions comprising integral oppositely and inwardly extending portions of said bolts, said bolts also incorporating latching portions extending upwardly beside the cylinder in a generally axial direction from the actuating portions.

15. Closure means for a fuel tank or the like comprising body means, latch bolt means pivotally mounted on said body means, an actuatable portion carried by said latch bolt means, a bearing potrion carried by said body means, actuating means movable carried by said bearing portion and adapted to engage said actuatable portion for pivoting said latch bolt means from a latching to a nonlatching position, cooperating abutment portions carried by said actuating means and said body means, sealing means sealingly operatively confined between said abutment portions, and spring means continuously urging said actuatable portion carried by said latch bolt means into engagement with said actuating means and compressing said sealing means between said abutment portions and taking up clearance between said abutment portions and sealing means, and between said actuatable portion and actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,946,215 Eshbaugh et a1 Sept. 11, 1957 2,880,903 Nehls Apr. 7, 1959 3,000,534 OBergfell Sept. 19, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 126 728 March 31 1964 Edward Jo Nehls It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belo' Column 4,, line 68 for "operable" read operably column 6 line 51, for "potrion" read portion same column 6 line 52, for "movable" read movably Signed and sealed this 18th day of August 1964.

ISEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER I EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A LOCKABLE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A BODY HAVING A TOP AND HAVING A SMALLER LOWER BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO PENETRATE AN OPENING TO BE CLOSED, SAID BODY HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN, LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE CAVITY OPERABLE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE TOP AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID LOWER BODY PORTION, AND ANGULAR BELL CRANK-TYPE BOLT MEANS ROCKABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID LOWER 